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Chess and the looking glass

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Egoigwe

Most folks play chess because of its compulsive thinking and focus. They love the challenge, strategies and joy of winning. I do too but I also found the other side of chess. What I have found most compelling since I discovered this looking glass is how so similar people's characters tend to fit in with the way they play chess. The way they make their moves and the move itself mirrors the persona of the player and tells a lot about the individual on the other side of the board.

THE COOL CAT 

He/she is the happy and free type, revelling in the air of freedom; breezy. They are the ones that giggle at their mistakes and tell you how much fun chess is. Their favorite response most times would be " Aw, it's just a game!" They find as much pleasure in winnig as they do losing, win or lose, there is bound to come that squeal of delight or some infectious giggle. They always have some words of hope and consolation when they defeat an opponent and an extended hand of friendship. They are the true ladies and gentlemen of the board. Happy, contented folks in real life.

 THE SMART ALEC

On board, he/she is a flowing commentary. Always analysing your move and never theirs. "You're not developing your game properly, I'm gonna kill you!". He/she takes all the time in the world to make a move only to ask when it's your turn "What's keeping you? Come on John, I ain't got all day!" And when they finally lose, it's "I'm never gonna play chess with you again unless I bring my mattress along. For you to make one flimsy move, I need to go to the barber's and back. How can anyone focus when it takes that long for you to make one damn move!" I find that most folks who are like this in chess are great pretenders in real life and wannabes. They like to believe they know it all and you just do not argue with them. There is always an excuse for things going wrong and that excuse will always be you! Their favorite real life expression is "It's your fault, you made me do it!"

 JACK THE GAMBLER

Sitting across the table from him you can see the roll of the dice in his eyes. He will get himself to believe you would make a silly move that will allow him pounce on your Queen. He lives in the make-believe world where dreams come alive. Intense and always watching you from the corners of his eyes, psyching and willing you to make his desired move. He is the guy that's always trying to jump into your head "Why did you make that move? Why didn't you make that other move? (which in reality was the move he wished for!) That such a strange move to make" For him, you never win because you are the better player, no, it's always just because you were luckier that he was. His game analysis is always about what he had in store for you if you would have only made a certain move that fitted perfectly in his dreams. In real life, Las Vegas is their habitat of choice!

THE SPOILT BRAT 

 He/she has just got to take every wrong move back.  They will always say with a screwed up face "It was a mistake, I accidentally placed it on the wrong square!" and when you tell them "No you didn't, it took you forever to make that move, you thought about it long enough before placing your piece where you did" they'll come up with stuff like "All you ever want is to win all the time! You never want me to give you a good game!" A good game for the spoilt brat is when you let him/her win. These are the exceptionally selfish types in real life, you know, the kind of guy that borrows your car, goes out and wrecks it because he was drunk to come home and tell you "Your damn car almost got me killed! Why didn't you tell me your brakes don't work?!"

THE MEAN S.O.B 

He/she is the type that will ignore your "Howdy!" or outstretched hand. They are butchers who can't wait to get you on the chopping block. First move, out pops the knight. Next move, the Queen swings out in a curve, then the bishop pin. Yikes! and it's some pun in a two-square leap, try minding your own business and he's already screaming "Check!" at you, oops, there goes your rook from the knight check and wham, in comes the bishop. Retreat? but there goes that damn pun again blocking your exit. Now he's telling you "I don't think you are in my league buddy!" There you are thinking what to do and this guy is telling you it's mate in 7 moves. Okay, you say, I've had quite enough of this character but before you can get to leave he demands of you, no, insists, "Why don't you resign? This game is an absolute waste of my time!" Urrr! Grrrrrrh! You look at him and everyone can see how badly you want to sock him one. They are the unforgiving ones in real life. Sadists. They make the most inconsiderate bosses and it must be their way or the highway.

To be continued later... 

Chess and the looking glass (part 2) 

Howlingbanshee
HAHA.  I enjoyed this a lot.  And it's true.
justice_avocado
that's why i play chess on the internet
Egoigwe
Merci, 'banshee, glad you enjoyed it... and thank you too Justice A, for keeping it real... cool. Cool
chopra

It is a very interesting topic. This is a nice analysis of personality but in an special point of view: Chess!. Really it deserves to be mention in psicology books. It is the real everyday life! I also enjoy the way you focus this topic. Very fun to read!

Egoigwe
Thank you, my great friend, chopra... mighty glad you liked it.
Skylos

In which category would you place yourself?

sebas4life

I think this is bs. how do you know all this? Did you ever talk to the people you played in real life? And who are you in your personality topic? The cool cat? because the rest of the people suck in your opinion. 

Egoigwe

sebas4life says:

"I think this is bs. how do you know all this? Did you ever talk to the people you played in real life? And who are you in your personality topic? The cool cat? because the rest of the people suck in your opinion."  

Well, I wouldn't know what your problem is but it's clear to see under what "personality topic" you would belong. Thanks for visiting.

madpawn

Egoigwe, you are a psychologist as well as an engineer. Brilliant profiling!

Egoigwe

Thank you madpawn, just loving chess-that's all... and getting clobbered by you :)

eve2010

i think i agree with seba"s4life opinion, did u ever talk to people u played in real life? and who are u really in ur personality topic ? if u can ans dat i"ll be very much gratefull. by the way i love it" coz its a very intresting topic which maybe revolves alittle bit around u, who know"s.